The Best Winter School Holiday Activities in Sydney to Keep the Kids Energised & Entertained
This round-up of the best school holiday activities in Sydney will keep the whole family happy.
Is it just us, or do the school holidays roll around quicker every term? Blink, and it's suddenly the winter school holidays and we're looking for ideas and inspo for our little ones yet again.
Like most parents, you're probably scrambling for fun school holiday activities in Sydney to keep your kiddos entertained during the break. Not every kid will gravitate towards a tennis camp or a gymnastics intensive, so what else is out there? Thankfully, in our bustling harbour city, we're never short of options, so keep reading as we wrap up the best school holiday activities for kids in Sydney this winter.
School Holiday Activities in Sydney: Winter 2024
Enjoy Half-Price Fun at some of Sydney's Biggest Attractions
Bargain alert! Explore Sydney's top attractions for less this winter. That's right, score 50% off kids' tickets at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower Eye, Madame Tussauds Sydney, and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo during the 2024 winter school holidays. Dive into underwater marvels, meet superheroes, discover wildlife heroes, and test your knowledge with fun trivia at the Sydney Tower Eye.
Monday 24 June - Sunday 21 July
For more information and 50 percent off kids’ tickets, head here
Meet an Astronaut
For the space-loving fan, bring them along to a very special event where they can rub shoulders with a real-life astronaut. Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the first astronaut to fly under the Australian flag, will land at the LEGO Certified Store, Pitt Street Mall, on Tuesday, July 16th. She’ll participate in a 30-minute Q&A session before jumping into a meet-and-greet.
Plus, see a meteoric marvel: the European Space Agency used dust from a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite to 3D print bricks —similar to LEGO bricks! This cosmic creation will be displayed at the event.
LEGO Certified Store, 400 George Street, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney
Tuesday 16th July, 10:00am
Book a Family-Friendly Staycay at the Novotel Sydney Parramatta
Unwind these school holidays with Novotel Sydney Parramatta's It's Par-Tea Time package. Offering overnight accommodation, an in-room high tea with hot chocolate or milkshakes, and a glamping pack featuring a teepee and activity packs, this will be a core memory for the whole family. Start your day with a buffet breakfast where kids eat free.
From $289
For more information and to book, head here
350 Church Street, Parramatta
Pop into Your Local Westfield for Hours of Fun
Your local Westfield is a treasure trove of fun, especially during the winter school holidays. Yep, these winter holidays Westfield shopping centres across Sydney will serve up a range of exciting events and activities for kids.
Highlights include the Marvel School Holiday Zones, featuring superhero games and crafts at all centres, and a Super Heroes Assemble experience at Warringah Mall. Enjoy Euro summer at Westfield Bondi with free gelato and macaroons, plus NAIDOC Week workshops at Bondi and Parramatta. Don’t miss the inflatable Minion at Mount Druitt, sushi-making at Tuggerah, and baby ballet classes at Warringah Mall.
Various Westfields across Sydney
For the full schedule, head to your local Westfield website
Take a FREE Gardening Class at Chiswick
For the budding green thumb in the family, Chiswick is bringing back their popular kids' gardening class for the July school holidays. And in even better news, it's FREE! Hosted by resident gardener Pete Hatfield, children aged 12 and under will learn about the diverse, nutrient-rich kitchen garden, engage in fun gardening activities, and explore the insect hotel, butterfly drones, and worm farm. After the class, families are invited to lunch, where kids eat free with each paying adult.
65 Ocean Street, Woollahra
11am - 12pm on Wednesday 10 July
Complimentary classes require booking; reserve your spot now
Go Ice Skating with the Whole Fam at WINTERFEST
Get ready for frosty fun at Darling Harbour's WINTERFEST! From July 6-21, enjoy open-air ice skating, fireworks, and wildlife adventures in the heart of our city. Don’t miss the free Winter Park festival from July 18-21, featuring a gaming zone, slime workshops, adventure films, and live music.
Saturday 6 July - Sunday 21 July, Darling Harbour
For more information, head here
Take a Coding Course at Code Camp
Code Camp offers engaging holiday programs for kids aged 5-13 across Australia. Their camps blend fun and learning, allowing children to create their own games, program robots, or explore digital design. Popular programs include Little Coders for younger children and Spark Coding for those starting their coding journey. With qualified teachers and hands-on activities, Code Camp ensures a memorable experience that combines creativity and technology.
Various locations across Sydney
From $390
For more information and to book, head here
Introduce the Kids to Classical Music
Celebrate NAIDOC Week FREE First Nations Experiences at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Celebrate the world’s oldest continuous living culture at Australia’s oldest botanic garden with FREE hands-on First Nations experiences for all ages. Enjoy the Aboriginal Bush Tucker tour and Aboriginal Harbour Heritage tour at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from 7-14 July as part of NAIDOC Week. In these immersive tours, join knowledgeable First Nations educators to learn about traditional bush foods, Gadigal history, and fire traditions.
Sunday 7 July - Sunday 14 July
FREE, meet at the Garden Shop at the Royal Botanical Gardens
Full schedule, head here
Strike out with Bargain Bowling
For just $55 per person (valued over $100), Kingpin’s Ultimate Holiday Pass is offering two activities like bowling, darts, laser tag, escape room, or karaoke. Plus, receive a $20 food and beverage voucher, $40 arcade voucher, and 200 prize tickets. Talk about value for money!
Available until July 21st
North Strathfield & Macarthur Square
Book online here
Have a Family-Friendly Escape at Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts
Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts' Little Adventures Pack is a delightful add-on for family stays at select Park Regis and Leisure Inn properties in Australia (for NSW-based families, they have hotels in the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley).
For just $50, children can enjoy a themed tent, a personalized welcome card, cosy slippers, a soft robe, an assortment of treats, and a cuddly teddy bear. This add-on transforms hotel rooms into a kids' paradise with a pitched tent set up in the room, with the option of it being traditional or circus-themed and a collection of gifts. The pack also comes with comfortable slippers, a soft robe, an assortment of treats, and a cuddly teddy bear. Additional children can join for $30.
For details, visit Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts’ Little Adventurers page
Leisure Inn Pokolbin Hill, Hunter Valley & Leisure Inn Spires, Leura
Explore, Dine & Play at Manufactor
Take a Dumpling-Making Class at the Sydney Seafood School for Kids
For the mini-master chefs in your life, treat them to a cooking class at Sydney Seafood School. Guided by expert staff, kids will get their hands dirty and be shown how to make a selection of delicious dumpling recipes. Parents can either drop off their children or do the class with them. A parent or guardian must join children under eight (including the purchase of an additional ticket).
It's a great opportunity for kids to get comfortable in the kitchen and learn about safety in a fun way and, of course, sample their hard work at the end, too.
Sydney Fish Market, 25 Bank Street, Pyrmont
$110, Thursday July 18, 11am, ages 8-14
Dive into a World of Fun with the Stay, Sea & Play Package
Ignite Your Culture Vulture at the MCA
Get Arty at Splatter Paint
Unleash your child's inner artist during the school holidays with an exhilarating session at Splatter Paint. Throw on a smock and goggles, grab a brush, and let the creativity flow onto the canvas. with one and two-hour sessions on offer, kids can enjoy a creative journey filled with fun and self-expression. Guardians must accompany children under five.
Level 2/78 Spring Street, Bondi Junction
Active and Creative Kids vouchers accepted
From $59, bookings essential
Take a Road Trip to the Hunter Valley Gardens for a Snow-Capped Adventure
If you need a few days away to break up the school hols, we recommend zooming on up to the Hunter Valley for some snowwy fun at their Snow Time in the Garden event.
Do you wanna build a snowman? (Frozen fans, if you know, you know). Or maybe you want the kids to race down the super-fast giant ice toboggan on the 45-metre slide? There's also a real ice, skating rink for kids to zip around on. Not a school holiday, the kids will forget anytime soon! Head here for the full program.
29 June - 28 July
Hunter Valley Gardens, from $40 per person, for the full schedule and to buy tickets, head here
Burn Some Energy at the All-Ages Playground in the City
Who doesn't love a school holiday activity that doesn't cost a cent? Enter the beyond-impressive Darling Harbour Kids' playground in the heart of the city. Parents can pick up a coffee nearby and watch from the sidelines as the kids zoom down the 21-metre flying fox, build sandcastles, whiz down the massive slide, navigate the webbed ropes and cap it all off with a splash in the water play area.
1-25 Harbour Street, Darling Quarter, Darling Harbour
Visit a Topsy-Turvy, Upside-Down House
For a truly unique experience these school holidays, visit Australia's first inverted house, House Down Under. As the name suggests, it's a quirky, upside-down house where visitors can explore the amusing, topsy-turvy interiors and capture photos that create stunning optical illusions.
Market Square, Rouse Hill Town Centre, Rouse Hill
From $19
For more information and to book, head here
Enjoy an Immersive Sporting Experience
SportsPlus at Canterbury League Clubs is the perfect school holiday activity for all ages. With over ten interactive and immersive sports simulations across our three different lanes, there's an experience for everyone, no matter their age. From virtual darts to cricket, and golf, your kids will be challenged in a fun and unique way. Worked up an appetite during your session? The venue also has a delicious pub-style food menu.
26 Bridge Road, Belmore
Catch a Show at the Sydney Opera House
For the theatre-loving kid, the Sydney Opera House has a packed calendar of brilliant shows and workshops, including James and the Giant Peach, a captivating play about Roald Dahl, costume design workshops, dance workshops and more.
Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
More information and to book, head here
Pat a Furry Friend at the Golden Ridge Animal Farm
A trip to the iconic Golden Ridge Farm will be a school holiday activity they'll remember for years to come. This family-run farm lets kids get up close and personal with its beautiful animals, including baby chicks, fluffy ducklings, and baby rabbits. Kids can also try their hand at milking the dairy cow and being led on a guided horse ride. They also offer a vacation care program for extended stays and tours.
686 Old Northern Road, Dural
Adults $25.00, children $25.00, children under one must be booked in but are free
Take a Workshop at the Australian National Maritime Museum
An underwater world of adventure awaits at the Australian National Maritime Museum, which hosts various exhibitions, activities, and workshops for all ages throughout the school holidays.
The Kids on Deck Maker Space is perfect for creative types, the Mini Mariners workshop caters to two to five-year-olds and offers creative free play, crafts, games, and story time; and Fintastic Fridays sees a roving mermaid treat the kids to dress-ups, facepaint and games.
2 Murray Street, Sydney
Ongoing during the school holidays
Entry is $25 per adult, $15 per child under 15, and kids under four are FREE. Some workshops incur additional costs, book here
Enjoyed our edit of the best school holiday activities in Sydney? Why not have a read of our round-up of the most family-friendly neighbourhoods in Sydney? Then check out our explainer on how to style your kids' bedroom.
